Amusement devices



" n-WW July 5, 1960 Filed Sept. 13, 1957 L. E. LEVINSON AMUSEMENT DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Fig.2

INVENTOR Louis E. Levinson ATTORNEY July 5, 1960 L. E. LEVINSON AMUSEMENT DEVICES Filed Sept. 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

Louis E. Levinson ATTORNEY July 5, 1960 1.. E. LEVINSON AMUSEMENT navxcss 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13, 1957 INVENTOR Louis E. Levin son ATTORNEY AMUSEMENT DEVICES Louis E. Levinson, 6458 Royal Lane, Dallas, Tex.

Filed Sept. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 683,823

Claims. (Cl. 272-33) This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to amusement devices which are actuated by the person riding the device.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement device having a seat for carrying a rider and having means actuated by the rider for moving the seat and rider in a predetermined path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement device, of the type described above, where the seat is pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement device, of the type described above, wherein the means for moving the rider in the predetermined path are actuated by the occupant of seat by oscillating the seat about the horizontal axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device, of the type described above, wherein the seat is biased for pivotal movement in one direction about the horizontal axis.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement device having a horizontal radial beam or support mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis, seats for riders pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the radial beam, and means actuated by pivotal oscillatory movement of the seat for rotating the radial beam.

Another object is to provide an amusement device, of the type described above, wherein the means for rotating the beam includes a bell crank lever pivotally mounted for reciprocation about a horizontal axis having one end 2,943,854 Fatented July 5, 1960 ing one of the foot operated means of the amusement device of Figure 6 for rotating the radial beam and oscillating the seat.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 599,181, filed July 20, 1956, now abandoned.

Referring now particularly to Figures .1 through 5 of the drawing, the amusement device 10 includes a base 11 on which is rotatably mounted a radial substantially horizontal beam 12 on whose opposite ends are mounted seats 13 and 14. The base 11 includes three'legs 15, 16 and 17 whose inner ends are disposed betweentwo clamp plates 18 and 19 and are secured therebetween by bolts 20.,

A vertical shaft 22a extends through suitable registering apertures in the clamp plates and a stationary gear 22, disposed on the upper clam-p plate.

Theshaft is rigidly secured to the stationary gear and the upper clamp plate in any suitable manner, as by welding, while its lower end extends through suitable apertures in the ends of bracing straps 25, 26 and 27. The straps are rigidly held to the dependent sleeve by a washer 28 and nut 29 threaded on the lower end of the shaft which is reduced to provide a downwardly facing shoulder so that the bracing straps are rigidly secured between the shoulder and the washer 28 by the nut'29. The other ends of the bracing straps 25, 26 and 27 are rigidly secured.

. thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding, which is connected to the seat and the other end connected to a spur gear in mesh with a stationary gear of a base whereby pivotal movement of the seat rotates the gear.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an amusement device, of the type described above, wherein the rear end of the seat is pivoted by foot operated means.

A further object is to provide an amusement device, of the type described above, wherein the radial beams provide foot rests for the rider.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are designated by like reference characters and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the amusement device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the amusement device shown .in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of one end of the radial beam and one of the seats mounted thereon;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the amusement device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showadapted to telescope over the upper end of the vertical shaft 22a so that the beam 12 rests on the ball bearing and is thus rotatably supported by the base 11.

A gear plate 34 is rigidly afiixed to the lower end of the barrel 33, as by welding, and has a shaft 34a journaled in a suitable vertical bore thereof located in an extension 36 of the gear plate which has a lower inwardly extending arm in which the lower end of the shaft 34a is journaled. A spur gear 37 is rigidly secured to the shaft 34a and meshes with the stationary gear 212. The upper end of the shaft 34a, above the gear plate, is provided with a radially extended arm 39 by means of which the spur gear may be rotated. It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 34a will cause the spur gear to rotate about the stationary gear, since it meshes therewith, whereby the gear plate and the radial beam, which are both rigidly secured to the barrel, rotate about the vertical axis of the shaft 22a.

The shaft 34a is caused to rotate by the oscillatory movement of the seats 13 and 14 to which it is connected,

on vertical channel members 48 and 49, respectively, by

means of bolts 50. The vertical members are rigidly secured to the radial beam at positions adjacent the opposite ends thereof by welding or the like, the radial beam passing through suitable apertures provided in the channel members.

The seats 13 and 14 are pivotally mounted on the upper ends of the vertical members 48 and 49, respecthe seats 13 and 14, respectively, adjacent the forwardor front ends of the seats.

Links 56 and 57 connect the rear portions of the seats i therein by cotter pins 68.

13 and 14 with the arms 58 of the bell crank levers 46 and 51-7.. The arms .58 .as well as the arms 45 are spaced outwardly or rearwardly of the vertical members to prevent contact between the links and the vertical members. The links areprovidedlat their upper ends with horizontal sleeves 6;) which are disposed in brackets 61 and 62 secured, as by screws, to the undersides of the seats 13 and1 4, respectively, hy means of bolts 63 and 64 which pass through registering apertures in the brackets and through the horizontal sleeves; i

= 'Ihe1lower endsof tie links 56 and 57 are provided eafi Kl through suitable apertures in the arms 580f the bell crank levers 46 and 47, respectively are retained -The apertures inthe arms '58 in which the extensions than the radius of the spur gear: Due to this combined withr-angular extensions 65 and 66, respectively, which can be dispensed with 65 and-660i manure-s6 and S I are received are preferably somewhat largerthanthe eii tensions'to permit a certaindegree of movement of the extensions in the apertures to prevent binding thereofdue to the arcuate movement'of the' arms- 58 about the bolts 50. i j 'The'forward ends ofthe seats 13 are biased downwardl y by springs 'lfl'and 71-whose upper ends are secured tothe seats by means ofbrackets 72 secured to the seats man suitable mannerandwhose lower-ends are secured totlieradial beam bymeans of eye screws threaded in suitable bores in the radial beam.

seatsrare provided with verticalf rnembers .75; which may beformed to represent the head of afhorse i or other animal and which are provided with handlesj76' mechanical advantage of the linkages between the seat and stationary gear, rotation of the radial beam is eilfected easily and smoothly with .an 'exp'enditure of a minimum of force by the riders. If desired the ,springs'flli and, 71 7 It will now be apparent that the new and improved amusement device includes a radial'beam mounted on a base for rotation about a vertical axis and that a pair of seats are pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the beam. It will be furtherseen that the base is pro vided .with afstationary gear 22 which mesheslwith a rotatable spur gear 37 rotatably mounted n the bean} by.

means of a gear plate 34 whereby rotation of thefspur gear causes the radial beam to rotate about'a' vertical axis. It will also be seen that the'spur gear is connected; to the rear portions of the seats through .rhechanical linkages which includes bell crank levers mounted on the beam by means of the vertical members 48Iand A9 for pivotal movement about horizontal waxes .wherehy pivotal movement of the seats about horizontal axes perport'hirnselt on the seat." V V In use, thefriderssit on a seat with their feet resting on the 'radial beam onopposiiejsides of each'of the verf 3 V tical members'48 and 49. The riders move alternately forward and back causing the seats '1 3and 14 to oscillate or pivot' about the bolts 50 1, the weight of each rider being effective to move downwardlythe rear portion of his seat, *In addition, each rider may brace his feet on the radial beam and pullbackwardion the handle. 76 to accelerate such downwardrnovement ofthe rear porpendicular to the pivotal-axes of the bell crank levers causesrotation of the spur gear.

' It will also be seen that the riders .face the directio'nin which they are moved.

In Figures .6 and 7 is illustrated a modified form' of the amusement device shown in Figures .1 through 5. The amusement device 100 differs from the amusement device 19 in that eachvbell crank lever 45 and'58 is provided with forwardly extending arms 101 and 102'l1aving slots 103 in which are received the angular extensions 104 of pedal 1evers 105 and 106. The pedal levers i105 and 106 are provided with pedal portions 1&7 which are tion ofhis seat. Downward moveinent of the forward portion of the seatis achieved by pushing on the handles 76 forwardly although this is not necessary when two riders are on the amusement device since" ,the bell crank.

levers 46 and 47 are so positionedfrelative to orie another that as the rear portion or" one seat is movingdownwardly the rear portion of the other s eat is movin g upwardly so that'the weight of one rider actingionthe rear portion ofone seat to move it downwardly 'isefiectiveto move therear portion of the other seatupwardlyj. i V 7 As the rear portion of one seat, say seat 14, is moved downwardly, the link 57 pivots the bell crank lever in a clockwise direction to Figure 1 which causes the link 42 to be moved outwardly. As a result, the lever 39 the pin 43 are rotated 'in a counterclockwise manner,

Figure 1, through one hundredeighty degrees. Rotation of the pin 43, ofcourse eauses the spur gear 37 to rotate and this moves or rotates the radial beam about the.

vertical axis of the vertical shaft 22a. During such movement of the rear. ponia pr" theseat 14, seat 13fis t t t s t q tr s iqn S 1 t hees of the 41 whieh eaused the-'belltcrank 1ever46 to rotate in a clockwise'manner and'to the action ofith e spring 70.

e ide 99,3 as .113 e wll w 'h Wight {9 e 'dq n n the ear 12 9 o t e se t .13 audfs u taneopsly'niaybull backwardly'on'the handle 76 :thus caus-f I ing the rear portion of the seat 13to move downwardly and thus cause thesbell' erank lever 46 torotateorpivot in a-counlterclockwisernanner about-its bolt 50; As a result, .the link lllis moyedf'outwardlylcausingrthe lever;

319to continue to rotate ina glockwise direction through sotllst ae spd s ehy rat 'on d stition of this cycle of operation c es theradial beam was; wntim b ut-t ed e ie wa sat i pta ylm u te on sa d-b am torpsci la b Patent of the United States is:

engaged by the feet of the riders The pedal Ileve'rs are pivoted intermediate their ends on'a'shaft' 199 which extends through suitable apertures ina U-bracket i rigidly secured to the vertical members 48 and 49 many 7 suitable way, as by welding. Spacer sleeves lll and .112 are disposed on the shaft and between the bracket .and the .pedal levers to hold the pedal levers properly posh tionedon the shaft. a

'It. will be apparent that each rider pushes the'pedal' portions 107 .of the pedal-lever 1G5 and 106 alternately downwardly to cause pivotal oscillatory movement'of the brackets 46 and 47 which thus cau s esthe seats to oscillate about their pivots 50a and simultaneously causes the radial beam'to rotate. Although springs 79 and 71' are provided they may be dispensed with. i V

It will be apparent that various changes in the con-' struction of the amusement device can bemadewithiut departinglfrom the invention and it is intended, therefore, I V

toicov r infthe appended ela i ms all such change or ifi 'a h s all i h n h tr e lsr ril 'ead' s ene a the invention. 7 J 7 p f, WhatI claim is new anddesire to secure byjl etters r 1A amu m n ev s n udias a bas mounted on saidbase for rotation about a vertical merit abouta first substantially horizontal aX'isja tortwt t sa -13am ab u ther said drive means cdmprisingfa bell crankle rhaying,

W m .ex ndi bs ti rerp mar i to one another pivotally mounted 'oasaia' Beam format, latory movement about asecond substantiallyh axis perpendicular to :said' firsti'horiiz ontal connecting one of 'said iarnds :to said seat, ct 50 gear means on said beam and said base, and means connecting the other of said arms to said gear means.

2. An amusement device including a base; a beam mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis; a seat pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; and drive means for rotating said beam about the vertical axis, said drive means comprising a bell crank lever having two arms extending substantially perpendicularly relative to one another pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a second substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, means connecting one of said arms to said seat, cooperating gear means on said beam and said base, means connecting the other of said arms to said gear means, and resilient means biasing said seat for movement in one direction about said first horizontal axis.

3. An amusement device including a base; a beam mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis; a seat pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; and drive means for rotating said beam about the vertical axis, said drive means comprising a bell crank lever having two arms extending substantially perpendicularly relative to one another pivo'tally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a second substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, means connecting one of said arms to said seat, cooperating gear means on said beam and said base, means connecting the other of said arms to said gear means, and foot operated mounted arm on said beam for imparting oscillatory movement to said bell crank lever.

4. An amusement device including a base; a beam mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis; a seat pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; and drive means for rotating said beam about the vertical axis, said drive means comprising a bell crank lever having two arms extending substantially perpendicularly relative to one another pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a second substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, means connecting one of said arms to said seat, cooperating gear means on said beam and said base, means connecting the other of said arms to said gear means, and resilient means biasing the front portion of the seat downwardly, said means connecting one of said arms to the seat being connected to said seat at a point rearwardly of said first horizontal axis.

5. An amusement device including a base; a beam mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis; a seat pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; anddrive means for rotating said beam about the vertical axis, said drive means comprising a bell crank lever having two arms extending substantially perpendicularly relativeto one another pivotally mounted on said beam for oscillatory movement about a second substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, means connecting one of said arms to said seat, cooperating gear means on said beam and said'base, means connecting the other of said arms to said gear means, resilient means biasing the front portion of the seat downwardly, said means connecting one of said arms to the seat being connected to said seat at a point rearwardly of said first horizontal axis, and foot operated lever mounted on said beam for imparting oscillatory movement to said bell crank lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 66,714 Keeny July 16, 1867 719,602 McCrea Feb. 3, 1903 831,161 Hess Sept. 18, 1906 1,466,845 Maxwell Sept. 4, 1923 1,486,669 Kline Mar. 11, 1924 2,395,398 Crwver Feb. 26,1946 

